Stephen Curry is hobbled. However the present goes on.
Simply ask Draymond Inexperienced, who’s totally assured within the Golden State Warriors’ playoff possibilities regardless that Curry left Tuesday’s sequence opener in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a strained left hamstring.
The Warriors cruised to a 99–88 win regardless of dropping Curry within the second quarter.
“Robin became Batman,” Inexperienced defined. “Alfred became Robin, and so they simply stuffed in. It was lovely to see.”
If the Warriors need to seize a 2–0 sequence lead on the street Thursday night time, they doubtless must shuffle their starring roles as soon as once more.
The unique Batman is Curry, after all. He averaged 24 factors per sport within the Warriors’ first-round win in opposition to the Houston Rockets, and he drew consideration from defenders that helped unlock a lot of his teammates on the offensive finish of the court docket.
Curry was off to a fantastic begin in Recreation 1 at Minnesota. He had 13 factors in his first 13 minutes, and the Warriors constructed an early result in subdue a Timberwolves crowd that was wanting to see a win.
However Curry grabbed his left leg after making a floating bounce shot. He signaled towards the bench that one thing appeared flawed, and he rapidly left the sport and by no means returned.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated he was planning for Recreation 2 with out his veteran sharpshooter. Curry is anticipated to bear an MRI on Wednesday to study extra in regards to the severity of the damage.
“We don’t know but,” Kerr stated. “However with a hamstring, it’s laborious to think about that he would play Thursday.”
So, what occurs when Batman is out?
Robin will get the decision.
On this case, which means Jimmy Butler. He flirted with a triple-double in Recreation 1 as he completed with 20 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 41 minutes.
Butler loves the highlight. He has performed together with being Robin to Curry’s Batman this season, however everybody is aware of that he’s an alpha at coronary heart. Search for him to attempt to take management in Recreation 2.
Will it work? That’s the tougher query to reply.
Minnesota is a superb defensive group regardless of exhibiting some breakdowns in Recreation 1. The Timberwolves will probably be determined to salvage a sport at dwelling earlier than the sequence shifts west, and coach Chris Finch nearly definitely will draw up a sport plan to attempt to frustrate Butler as a lot as doable.
If Robin turns into Batman, as Inexperienced defined, then Alfred might want to fill Robin’s function. On this case, which means Buddy Hield will probably be requested to step up and fill a few of the void left by Curry.
Hield has proven he can deal with the additional tasks. He scored 33 factors on 12-for-15 capturing — together with 9-for-11 from 3-point vary — in Recreation 7 at Houston, and he stayed scorching on Tuesday night time with a team-high 24 factors whereas making 5 of eight pictures from distance.
It’s affordable to suppose that Hield will cool off quickly, maybe as quickly as Recreation 2. He’s an excellent shooter, however he averaged 11.1 factors through the common season, and sooner or later one would suppose he would regress to the imply.
Inexperienced left himself out of the Batman description, however clearly he’s the villain in any present. He had a powerful sequence opener by which he completed with 18 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists.
Maybe equally as vital, Inexperienced performed with an edge however stayed cautious to not go over the sting. He must take that method once more Thursday, particularly if the motion intensifies and the Timberwolves attempt to beat him at his personal sport by getting underneath his pores and skin.
It’s too quickly to know if Curry will probably be again within the sequence and, in that case, how quickly.
Don’t depend out the Warriors, although.